Essential Control System MCQs Every Electrical Engineer Should Know!

Control systems are the cornerstone of many technologies, including robotics, aerospace, automotive, and automation. The area of knowledge required to do all this properly involves control system principles and control engineering basics. Electrical discipline engineers should pay special attention to these principles to design, analyze, and optimize control systems.

In this article, we will present some commonly asked control system MCQs for electrical engineers. Additionally, we also discuss few control systems.

Types of Control Systems for Electrical Engineers

The following are some common types of control systems.

• • • Open-loop control system:
      • Advantages:
        • Simple and economical
        • Easier to construct
        • Stable
      • Disadvantages:
        • Inaccurate
        • In the real world, the formulation of such operational changes could not take place automatically
    • Closed-loop systems:
      • Advantages:
        • Accurate
        • Less affected by noise
      • Disadvantages:
        • Complete and costlier
        • With the feedback, the system displays reduced profits
        • Stability is one of the main issues that it confronts

Top 30 Control System MCQs for Electrical Engineers

Q1. What is a Control System?

1. A system that manages electrical power distribution
2. A system that regulates the behavior of other systems or processes
3. A system used for data storage and retrieval
4. A system that measures electrical resistance

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘B’ – A system that regulates the behavior of other systems or processes

Q2. Which is NOT a Type of Control System?

1. Open-loop control system
2. Closed-loop control system
3. Feedback control system
4. Static control system

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is – ‘D’ – Static control system

Q3. What is the Role of Feedback in a Control System?

1. To amplify the input signal
2. To provide information about the output for comparison with the desired value
3. To convert analog signals to digital signals
4. To eliminate noise from the system

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘B’ – To provide information about the output for comparison with the desired value

Q4. Which Control System Parameter is Responsible for Controlling the System’s Response Speed?

1. Proportional (P) gain
2. Integral (I) gain
3. Derivative (D) gain
4. Setpoint

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘C’ – Derivative (D) gain

Q5. What is the Purpose of the Proportional (P) Term in a PID Controller?

1. To eliminate steady-state error
2. To improve stability
3. To control the response speed
4. To reduce overshoot

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘B’ – To improve stability

Q6. What is Responsible for Eliminating Steady-State Error in the PID Controller?

1. Proportional (P) term
2. Integral (I) term
3. Derivative (D) term
4. Setpoint

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘B’ – Integral (I) term

Q7. What is the Transfer Function?

1. A function that states the relationship between input and output signals
2. The function used to calculate the PID gains
3. The function that converts digital signals to analog signals
4. The function that models system dynamics over time

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘A’ – A function that states the relationship between input and output signals

Q8. What Does ‘Overshoot’ Mean?

1. The difference between the desired and actual output
2. The delay in system response
3. The maximum deviation of the output from the desired value
4. The stability of the system

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘C’ – The maximum deviation of the output from the desired value

Q9. Which Control System Parameter Helps in Reducing Oscillations and Overshoot in a System’s Response?

1. Proportional (P) gain
2. Integral (I) gain
3. Derivative (D) gain
4. Setpoint

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘C’ – Derivative (D) gain

Q10. What is System Dynamics?

1. The study of electrical power systems
2. The study of how systems change over time
3. The mathematical representation of control systems
4. The process of tuning PID controllers

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘B’ – The study of how systems change over time

Q11. What is the Laplace Transform Used for in Control System Analysis?

1. To convert differential equations into algebraic equations
2. To simulate system behavior in the time domain
3. To model system dynamics in discrete time
4. To analyze system stability in the frequency domain

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘A’ – To convert differential equations into algebraic equations

Q12. Which Criteria Mean that the Poles of a Transfer Function Should Stay in the Left Half of the Complex Plane for Stability?

1. Bode stability criterion
2. Nyquist stability criterion
3. Routh-Hurwitz stability criterion
4. Root locus stability criterion

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘C’ – Routh-Hurwitz stability criterion

Q13. What is the Role of a Root Locus Plot in Control System Analysis?

1. To analyze system stability
2. To determine the system response to step inputs
3. To optimize PID controller parameters
4. To design compensators for desired closed-loop performance

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘D’ – To design compensators for desired closed-loop performance

Q14. What is True About the Steady-State Error of a Control System?

1. Steady-state error depends on the system’s initial conditions
2. Steady-state error is always zero in closed-loop systems
3. Steady-state error decreases with increasing system gain
4. Steady-state error is the difference between the input and output signals at steady state

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘D’ – Steady-state error is the difference between the input and output signals at steady-state

Q15. Which Type of Controller Action Increases the Stability of a System but May Introduce Steady-State Error?

1. Proportional (P) action
2. Integral (I) action
3. Derivative (D) action
4. Proportional-Integral (PI) action

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘B’ – Integral (I) action

Q16. What is the Primary Disadvantage of Using a Lead Compensator in Control System Design?

1. It amplifies high-frequency noise
2. It decreases system stability
3. It introduces phase lag
4. It requires complex mathematical calculations

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘A’ – It amplifies high-frequency noise

Q18. In Control System Design, What Does the Phase Margin Indicate?

1. The amount of gain reduction required to stabilize the system
2. The difference between the phase at the gain crossover frequency and -180 degrees
3. The rate of change of phase with frequency
4. The frequency at which the system exhibits maximum overshoot

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘B’ – The difference between the phase at the gain crossover frequency and -180 degrees

Q19. Which Control System Parameter Affects the System’s Transient Response but not its Steady-State Response?

1. Proportional (P) gain
2. Integral (I) gain
3. Derivative (D) gain
4. Setpoint

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘C’ – Derivative (D) gain

Q20. What is the Role of System Identification In Control System Design?

1. To optimize PID controller parameters
2. To determine the transfer function of the system
3. To analyze system stability
4. To simulate system behavior over time

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘B’ – To determine the transfer function of the system

Q21. What Does “Settling Time” Mean in Control System Analysis?

1. The time taken for the system output to reach within a specified percentage of its final steady-state value
2. The time taken for the system to stabilize after a disturbance
3. The time taken for the system to respond to a step input
4. The time taken for the controller to compute the control action

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘A’ – The time taken for the system output to reach within a specified percentage of its final steady-state value

Q22. Which Type of Feedback Control System has its Output Directly Connected to its Input?

1. Open-loop control system
2. Closed-loop control system
3. Feedback control system
4. Feedforward control system

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘A’ – Open-loop control system

Q23. What is the Advantage of a Digital Control System Over an Analog Control System?

1. Higher accuracy
2. Lower cost
3. Faster response time
4. Greater flexibility and programmability

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘D’ – Greater flexibility and programmability

Q24. What is the Laplace Transform of a Unit Step Function?

1. 1/s
2. 1
3. s
4. e^-s

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘A’ – 1/s

Q25. In Control System Design, What Does the Term “Gain Crossover Frequency” Refer to?

1. The frequency at which the open-loop gain of the system is equal to 1
2. The frequency at which the phase margin is maximum
3. The frequency at which the system exhibits resonance
4. The frequency at which the closed-loop gain is maximized

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘A’ – The frequency at which the open-loop gain of the system is equal to 1

Q26. What is a Characteristic of an Underdamped System Response?

1. Slow response with minimal overshoot
2. Rapid response with sustained oscillations
3. Slow response with excessive steady-state error
4. Rapid response with no overshoot

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘B’ – Rapid response with sustained oscillations

Q27. What is the Purpose of Pole-Zero Cancellation in Control System Design?

1. To stabilize unstable poles
2. To improve system transient response
3. To eliminate steady-state error
4. To increase system gain

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘B’ – To improve system transient response

Q28. Which Type of Control System Compensation is Used to Improve the Phase Margin Without Significantly Affecting the Gain Crossover Frequency?

1. Lead compensation
2. Lag compensation
3. Proportional compensation
4. Integral compensation

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘B’ – Lag compensation

Q29. What is the Primary Drawback of Using a Pure Derivative (D) Control Action in a PID Controller?

1. It introduces steady-state error
2. It amplifies noise and disturbances
3. It reduces system stability
4. It increases the settling time

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘B’ – It amplifies noise and disturbances

Q30. Which Control System Parameter Determines the Rate at Which the Integral Action Responds to Accumulated Error Over Time?

1. Reset time
2. Proportional gain
3. Derivative time
4. Integral gain

Answer: The correct answer to this control system MCQs for electrical engineers is ‘A’ – Reset time

Prepare For Your Tech Interview with IK!

Understanding control system fundamentals, including PID control, system dynamics, and feedback mechanisms, is essential for electrical engineers involved in designing and optimizing various engineering systems. These MCQs provide a glimpse into key concepts and principles that form the foundation of control systems. Interview Kickstart’s Tech Interview Prep Course will help you fast-track your interview preparations and become a master of the field.

FAQs: Control System MCQs for Electrical Engineers

Q1. What is the Transfer Function? 

Transfer Function is the ratio of Laplace transform of output to Laplace transform of input with all the conditionals as zero.

Q2. What are the Components of Feedback Control Systems? 

The components of feedback control systems include:

• Processing system
• Feedback path element
• Error detector
• Controller

Q3. What is the Gain Margin? 

Gain Margin is the gain that is different before the system becomes stable.

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